Retractable and collapsible pontoon



Dec. 22, 1942.

Filed Jan. 27, 1940 7 Sheefs-Sheet 1 w h M m E 1 mm 3 5 6 mm mm am a 3 6n om \mw u n Nn m E y mm 1 1 g Y E on mm I mm mN WM v n m mm g am I INVENTOR. Berle}! N 11in M194 ATTOENEYS Dec. 22; 1942. B. w. KING RETRACTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE PQNTOON '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Berlell H M46 Filed Jan. 27, 1940 Dec. 22, 1942.

B. W. KING .RETRACTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE PONTOON Filed Jan. -27, 1940 7 sheetsrs heet 3 Dec. 22, 1942. 5, w, K|NG 2,306,269

RETRACTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE iONLOON Filed Jan. -27, 1940 7 She ets-Sheet 4 35-5 r HEM 55 L -1 32 W I ll; t RHV 5-B W 7 E5 ATTORNE Y5 D 1942.. a. w. KING 2,306,269

RETRACTABLE AND COLLA'PSIBLE PONTOON Filed-Jan. 27, 1940 7 Sheets- Sheet 5 \6 22 \3 Q 7 v 355 w w MW 20 w INVENTOR.

Bartel! IY. Hing Dec. 22, I B. W. KING RETRACTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE PONfIOON Filed Jan. 27, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. fler'iell 14. King A ORNEYS Dec. 22, 1942. B. w. KING 2,305,259

' RETRACTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE PONTQON Filed Jan. 27, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR. Berfell W lf-ing ATTdR/V vs Patented 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RETRACTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE PONTOON Bertell W. King, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application January 27, 1940, Serial No. 315,870

11 Claims. (Cl. 244102 This invention relates to improvements in retractable and collapsible pontoons, suitable for landing gears for aeroplanes and other uses, and its object is to provide a simple construction for such devices and' mechanism for operating it.

beyond a fuselage, but these do not meet the need of a suitable landing gear in which the pontoon when in use must be below and sufliciently spaced I from the fuselage or frame of the aeropane to hold the'propeller above the water. It is an object of this invention to meet this need by providing a landing gear which comprises a collapsible pontoon supported on movable arms pivotally mounted on a suitable part of an aeroplane with folding mechanism actuated by the movement of the arms. By this arrangement the cross-sectional size of the pontoon when it is below and spaced from the fuselage or frame of the aeroplane is great enough to provide the necessary'buoyancy and when it is raised by the movement of the supporting arms it is folded transversely into such a size that it may enter a comparatively small space provided for its reception in the fuselage or other suitable part of the aeroplane structure, thus eliminating air resistance.

These and other objects of the invention will appear in the following specification in which I will describe certain mechanisms which embody and illustrate the invention, the novel features of which will beset forth in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a landing gear which is made according to and embodies my invention, the parts being shown in position to effect a landing, the section being taken on line l--Iv of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same parts with the pontoon retracted and folded. This section is taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the parts shown in the preceding figures in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is aview similar to Fig. 3 with the parts in the position in which they are shown in Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional front elevation of the pontoon shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on the line 55 of the latter. figure;

Fig. 6 is a, view similar to Fig. 5 with the parts retracted and folded, the section being taken on theline 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7. is a side elevation of an aeroplane equipped with a pontoon which embodies this in-- vention, provided with an arrangement for maintaining the balance of the plane when the position of the pontoon is shifted Fig. 8 is a sectionalside elevation of another form of landing gear which also embodies my in-' vention, the parts being shown in position to efl'ect a landing;

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view of the pontoon shown in Fig. 8, the section being taken on the line 9-9 of the latter figure;

Figs. 10 and 10A are sectional front elevations of the form of pontoon which is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the section in Fig. 10 being taken on the line l O--|0 of Fig. 8, showing the parts in landing condition and in Fig. 10A the same parts are shown in retracted and folded condition;

Figs. 11 and 12 are sectional side elevations of another modified embodiment of my invention, showing'a pontoon and associated parts in landing condition in Fig. 11 and in retracted and folded condition in Fig. 12;

Figs. 13 and 14 are sectional side elevations on an enlarged scale of some of the parts shown in Figs. 11 and 12, respectively;

Figs. 15 and 16 are sectional side elevations of another form of pontoon with a different form of retracting mechanism. these figures also showing the parts in landing and in retracted and folding conditions, respectively.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various figures of the drawings.

. IO designates a rigid part of an aeroplane structure in which semi-circular, longitudinal pockets II 'are formed. l2 and ii are longitudinally spaced transverse shafts pivotally supporting retracting arms" and 2!, respectively. Aflixed to or integral with the upper ends of these arms are segmental worm gears 22 and 23 engaging worms i6 and I! on ashaft Iii actuated by hand or by suitable mechanism not shown. By this mechaarms 28, 2'! may be moved from their distended position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to their retracted position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and vice versa.

Near the other ends of these supporting arms they are pivoted at 26 and 25 to a rigid bar 8| a pontoon frame. Afilxed to or integral with the supporting arms are gears 26, 21 which mesh with gears 3|, 32 pivoted to the bar 30 at 33, 34 and aflixed to arms 35, 35. The other ends of arms 35, 39 are pivoted to collars 31, 38 spaced apart and afllxed to a rod 39 which is parallel with the bar 3|! and disposed substantially in the central longitudinal .axis of the pontoon.

49 is a rigid bar which forms the bottom of the main body of the pontoon. This is connected to the collars 31, 38 by arms, 42 which are pivoted to both the bar and the collars.

The pontoon itself comprises two head 43, 44 which are interconnected by a plurality of angu larly spaced resilient strips 45. Strips 46, 41 extend from the ends of the bar 30 to the heads 43, 44 respectively, and strips 48, 49 extend from the bar 40 to the heads 43, 44. A step 49A is formed near the connection of strips 49 and bar 40 to facilitate planing ,of the pontoon when moving.

through water and raising the pontoon from the water as the plane rises.

A plurality of radially disposed arms 50 extend from the collar 31 tothe strips 45. These arms are pivoted near their ends to the collar and to the strips. designates similar radial arms between the collar 38 and the strips 45. When the collars 31, 38 are in their extreme right hand' position, as seen in Fig. 1, the frames and 40 are moved apart and so are the strips 45.

The skeleton frame thus formed is covered by a waterproof envelope 55, preferably of somewhat elastic material. 56, 5'! are transverse diaphragms connected with the central rod 39 and the outer envelope 55 dividing the pontoon into a plurality of water-tight compartments. 58 designates air tubes which run from these compartments to points well above the top of the pontoon in its distended position. These tubes may be placed alongside of the arms 20, 2|, as shown, or. if de-' sired, may run through these arms.

It may be seen that the pontoon shown in Fig. 1 is in proper spacedwelation to the part ID of the aeroplane to which it is attached, to function properly for landing. The front view, Fig. 3, shows two such properly positioned pontoons. The shafts l8 and IBA may be interconnected if desired by suitable mechanism to insure their moving in unison.

It is, of course, desirable to retract the pontoons when they are not in use. This is done by turning the shaft I9 in the direction to swing the supporting arms 20, 2| to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1. This, through the interconnection of gears 26, 21 with gears 3|, 32, will movethe arms 35, 36 and rod 39 to the left and this folds up the skeleton frame so that when it reaches the pocket lLit is small enough to go into it, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The envelope .55 will then assumesome such position as .that indicated at 55A (Figs. 4 and 6).

To lower and distend the pontoon, the operation is reversed When the position of the pontoon is shifted, as

thus described, the balance of the plane is dis- 6 turbed. This difliculty may be overcome automatically by such an arrangement as that shown in Fig. '7. In this case the shaft I8 is geared at 9|! to rotate an internally threaded vertically disposed member 6| in which is 'a non-rotative screw 62. The upper end of this screw is connected to an elevation tin 83 which is pivoted tothe body of the planeat', a point spaced from the connection of. the screw with thefln. When the pontoon is in landing position the fln 63 will 5 the pontoon.

The pontoon shown in Figs. 8 and 9 comprises two substantially flat rigid members 30A and 40A connected to the arms 35, 4| and 36, 42 arranged to be moved toward and away from each other by the movement of the arms 20, 2|. Plates Ill, 1| of resilient sheet metal extend from the members 30A, 40A to a line 12 where they are hinged or otherwise connected. At the other'end are similar plates 13, "joined at the line '15.

In substantially horizontal alinement with the members 30A, 40A are side strips such as those shown at 16 in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. When the pontoon distended these side strips are forced outwardly by arms TI, 11 pivoted to the side'strips and to transverse arms 18, I8 which extend from the collars 31, 38. When the rod 39 is moved to the left to move the members 30A, MIA-toward each other, the arms 18 are moved to the dotted line positions 18A, 13A, (Fig. 9).

, Figs. 10 and 10A illustrate a pontoon of simple connecting the sides of the members 30B, 40B.

The strips 16, 16 are connected to these sides 8| intermediate the members 303 and 4013. Between the strips 'lG and the arms 18 are pivoted thearms 11 arranged to draw the sides inwardly when the pontoon is collapsed, as shown in Fig. 10A. It is understood that the ends of the members 30B, 43B are also connected by flexible waterproof material.

Referring now to Figs. 11-14, the pontoon shown is an air tight structure comprising rigid top and bottom members 30C, 400 connected to a longitudinally movable rod 390 by links 350, MC and 36C, 42C. On the upper ends of the links 35C, 360 are segmental gears 3| C, 320 in mesh with gears 26C, 210 on the ends of arms 20C, 2 IC. Between the ends of the members 30C, 40C are flexible sheets 90, 9|. 92, 93 are rigid bars. The bar 92 is connected to the rod 390 as by a wire 94, to draw in the sheet 90 when .the rod is moved to the right. The bar 93 is connected to the member 30C througha spring 95 so that the sheet 3| is drawn in when the members 300 and 400 are brought together. I

In this case the parts are actuated penumatically. 96 is a tube connected with the inside of the air tight pontoon. When air is exhausted from the pontoon through the tube 96 it will collapse and the movement of the member 49C toward the member 300 will force a rod 39C to the right, causing the arms 3.50, O and 36C, 42C to fold to the positions shown in Figs. 12 and 14. The movement of the arms 35C and 36C will be impartedv to the arms 20C, 2|C through their geared connection to retract the pontoon.

This operation will be reversed upon the admis- Gil sion of air under pressure to the pontoon through arrangement shown in-Flgs. l-lOA. In this case their lower ends are pivoted to a horizontal frame 100, to which extension arms 20E, ZIE are also pivoted. Adjacent ends of arms 20D, 20E and of arms MD, 2 IE are geared together, as at IOI, I02, so that when arms 20D, 2|D are swung to the left, the extension arms 20E, ZIE will be swung to the right. The lower ends of the extension arms are connected to the pontoon expanding mechanism in the manner described previously.

The pockets into which the pontoon is retracted may be closed, if desired, when the pontoon is within it. As an example of a pocket closing device, the pocket H shown in Figs. l-4 is circular in cross-section and is provided with a shield or shutter II A which may be rotated to close the pocket, as shown inFig. 4.

Several different constructions have been illustrated and described in order to show that the invention ,is not limited to any specific arrangement of parts and I intendno limitations other than those imposed by' the appended claims.-

away from said body, and gearing interconnecting the arms and the toggle mechanism whereby said toggle mechanism is actuated by the movement of the arms.

r 2 A rigid body, a pontooncomprising a contractible frame and a flexible waterproof cover, a transverse flexible diaphragm dividing the pontoon into separate compartments, contracting and expanding toggle -mechanism within the frame,

supporting arms pivotally connected to the body and to said frame, means for swinging the arms to move the pontoon toward and away from the body and gearing interconnecting the arms and the toggle mechanism whereby said toggle mechanism is actuated by the movement of the arms.

3. A rigid body, a pontoon comprising a contractible frame and a flexible waterproof cover,

arms pivotally connected to the body,- toggle mechanism interconnecting the arms and said frame, and means for swinging the arms and thereby actuating said mechanism.

'4. A rigid body constructed with a pontoon receiving space, a pontoon, arms pivoted near one of their ends to said body, the other ends of the arms being pivoted to the pontoon, said arms being arranged to hold the body'and the pontoon in spaced relation, means for swinging the arms to bring the pontoon into the space in the body, and toggle mechanism within the pontoon actuated by the movement of the arms for contracting the pontoon.

5. A rigid body, a pontoon, swinging arms pivoted near one of their ends to the body and pivoted near the other of their ends to the pontoon, said arms being arranged to hold the body and the pontoon in spaced relation, means for swinging the arms to move the pontoon toward the body, said pontoon having a contractible frame comprising a longitudinally movable rod, a plurality of longitudinal members angularly disposed around said rod, a plurality of links interconnecting the rod and said members and a flex- ,said pontoon having a lower rigid receiving space, a pontoon, swinging arms pivoted near one of their ends to the body and pivoted near the other of their ends to the pontoon, said arms being arranged to hold the body and the pontoon in spaced relation, means for swinging the arms to move the pontoon into-the space in the body, said pontoon having a contractible frame comprising a longitudinal movable rod, a plurality of longitudinal members angularly disposed around said rod, a plurality of links interconnecting the rod and said members and a flexible waterproof cover, and gearing between the swinging arms and some of the links arranged to cause the swinging movement of the arms to impart a longitudinal movement to the rod.

7. A rigid body, a pontoon, a pair of spaced swinging arms pivoted near one of their ends to the body and pivoted near the'other of their ends to the pontoon, said arms being arranged to hold the body and the pontoon in spaced relation, means for swinging the arms to move the pontoon toward the body, said pontoon 'having; a contractible frame comprising a longitudinally mov-, able rod, a plurality of longitudinal members angularly disposed around said rod, a plurality of links interconnecting the rod and said members and a flexible waterproof cover, and gearing between the swinging armsand some of the links arranged to cause the swinging movementof the arms to impart a longitudinal movement to the rod.

8. A rigid body, a pontoon comprising a contractible frame and a flexible waterproof cover, a transverse flexible diaphragm dividing the'pontoon into separate compartments expanding toggle mechanism within the frame, arms pivot- .ally connectedto the body, toggle mechanism interconnecting the arms and said frame, means for swinging the arms' and thereby actuating said mechanism, and an air tube extending upwardly from each compartment.

9. A rigid body, a pontoon movably connected to said body, means for moving the pontoon toward and away'from the body and toggle-mechanism within the pontoon actuated by said movement for contracting and expanding the pontoon,

ranged to form a step.

10. A rigid body, a pontoon comprising rigid upper and lower members, an intermediate longitudinally movable rod and pairs of links interconnecting said members and rod, swinging arms pivoted to the body and to said upper member, gearing between said arms and some of said links for causing the movement of the arms to move the rod and to change members.

11. A rigid body constructed witha'pontoon the relative position of the receiving space, a pontoon, arm pivoted near one of their ends to said body, the other'ends of the arms being pivoted to 'the pontoon, said arms being arranged to hold the bodyand the pontoon in spaced relation, means for swinging the arms to bring the pontoon into the space in the body, means for closing said space, and toggle mecha-' nism within the pontoon actuated by the movement of the arms for contracting and expanding the ptntoon.

BERTEIL W. KING.

portion ar 

